TGIF Political News Dump: "Rocky D. gets a new gig"

Its Rocky Delgadillo.

OK, its not at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and most likely does not come with a car for the wife, but former the Franklin High School Quarterback and City Attorney Rocky Degadillo has a new (and newsworthy for the Daily News) job as the CEO of the Los Angeles County Medical Association. 

Why Rocky?

"Rocky Delgadillo is the ideal choice, given his deep knowledge and experience and his passionate advocacy on behalf of the patients that we serve," said Troy Elander, president of the medical association's board. "Rocky has a track record of providing game-changing leadership."

..... and Rocky pledges.

"In addition to my work here at the firm, I look forward to working at the forefront of current medicine and working to protect LACMA and its members," Delgadillo said. "I am ready to roll up my sleeves and work to ensure LACMA members are able to focus on the important work they do and not on the bureaucracy that plagues the medical profession."

We wish Rocky well.

Your thoughts..............

Scott Johnson in CD 14

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

What's the difference between former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and other termed out ex-politicians? Rocky has become a private sector whore as opposed to a long list of other out of work electeds such as Cindy Montanez, Sharon Runner, Wally Knox, Fabian Nunez, Sheila Kuehl, et al who have all been set up with cushy six figure jobs on the government dime by Mayor V or the Kennedy Republican.  And that's probably only because Rocky is so hated by everyone in politics he had no favors to cash in.  Next up: "Which Way Jack Weiss?"

Big split in Valley Latino politics as Coumcilman Richard Alarcon declares support for Jerry Brown for Governor while State Senator Alex Padilla is in the Gavin Newsom camp. With Mayor Villaraigosa out of the race Brown and Newsom are scrambling to scoop up as much Hispanic support as possible. Alarcon's support for Brown confirms what  I have said for sometime is that Brown is poised to win the Democratic primary as older Hispanic voters - who vote more reliably than younger voters - will flock to Brown remembering his association with Cesar Chavez and historic Latino civil rights battles of the 60s and 70s as well as their general comfort level with the senior and more moderate Brown over the liberal and erratic Newsom.

We recently featured writer/filmmaker Matt Olay's animated spoof on Mayor V here on the blog.  The short which has been posted to numerous local blogs as well as covered by the LA Weekly garnered a lot of chuckles.  However Jonathan Lloyd writing at KNBC's blog seems to have a big problem with it.  He also apparently disputes the Weekly's Patrick Range McDonald's excellent article that exposed how little work Mayor Villaraigosa actually does. Perhaps if the dinosaur media like KNBC actually did some journalism they might discover the utter dysfunction that is LA's reigning kleptocracy.

And finally if you want to see a gorgeous photo of Los Angeles Union Station take a ride over to View From A Loft

Former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo finds Employment

"Is Rocky's new gig a pit stop on the way to Sacramento"

Former City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo has found gainful employment after eight eventful years as Los Angeles City Attorney.

The Los Angeles Business Journal reports that Delgadillo will be joining Goodwin Proctor LLP as counsel.

But don't count on Delgadillo to sit still at his new gig.

Delgadillo has amass a $936,000 war chest to pursue once again, a run for California Attorney General, with Billionaire Eli Broad supporting.

Yet, Delgadillo has to earn a pay check from his new employer as noted below

At Goodwin Procter, Delgadillo will be focusing on building a book of business as a member of the 400-attorney firm’s litigation department.

“I’m looking forward to solving big problems in the litigation arena and public-private partnerships,” said Delgadillo, who will split his time between the firm’s Century City and downtown L.A. offices.

One wonders if Rocky gets a free vehicle as part of his compensation package ??

Your thoughts..................

Question for the morning

How will Controller Wendy Greuel make good on a promise to audit the City Attorney’s Office now that a judge has ruled she lacks authority to do so? Does Carmen Trutanich invite her in, anyway? … If the City Attorney can veto her requests, is an audit under these circumstances really worth anything?

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Monday

Word is just starting to trickle out that Santa Monica City Councilman, the Governor's brother-in-law and Kennedy Family scion Bobby Shriver is considerng a run for State Attorney General and he's already getting the usual treatment from Mayor Sam readers.  An opening in the race for the Democratic nomination for AG is contingent upon the likely entry of Jerry Brown into the Governor's race.  If that happens, Shriver may face off against Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo (his second try) and San Francisco DA Kamala Harris.

The City's Primary Election was nearly two weeks ago but two of the candidates for Mayor may not have got the message.  Walter Moore dukes it out with Phil Jennerjahn in the comments section of a Mayor Sam Hotsheet.

The LAPD will move to it's new headquarters, only it's third in 113 years, this November.  Steve Harvey recaps the history of the last two police HQs, Central Headquarters in use from 1896 to 1955 and Parker Center, best known from the Dragnet TV series, which has been the LAPD's home for the last 55 years.

It made for some beautiful photos but the LA Zoo has done one of the dumbest things I've seen - cover numerous animal exhibits in snow trucked in from local mountains.  Most of the animals who found their pens covered in the white stuff may have descended from snowy country but were born in captivity and live in LA so they're not used to it.  More and more it becomes clearer that zoos need to be re-thought and that it's cruel to hold these animals in captivity in environments that are a fraction of the size they need.

You're Cute!

Your blogging friends ask you all
Who’s so hot in City Hall?
Who is smartest?
Who is dumb?
Whose crazed idea made you numb?
Choose your favorites,
A City Hall poll
Here are the questions
Answer them all!

Elected Politicians
Hottest male/female
Smartest (m/f)

Dumbest (m/f)

Most asexual (m/f)

Surprisingly down ‘n’ dirty in bed (m/f)

Get on the treadmill! (m/f)

Hottest Spouse (or, um, “Partner”) (m/f)

City Hall Staffer

Hottest Female

Hottest Male

Best Behind the Scenes Person

Smarter than their boss

Nicest

Dumbest

Idea of the Year (and whose idea was it?)

Best

Worst

Local Gadfly or Journalist

Best Writer

Funniest

Sexiest

Dumbest/Most Annoying

Finish the Thought

Antonio will win re-election big, barely or get his ass kicked by whom?

Who is less trustworthy than Antonio?

Biggest asshole

Next Major Firing

Finally, since crazy, lying, thieving people are said to be good in bed, who is a better lay than Rocky & Michelle Delgadillo?

Bad News: DJIA soars 936 Points!

The biggest gain in history, and overseas markets rocket.

Overheard at Obama offices: "Quick! Get Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, his once Ten-Most-Wanted Wife to Wall Street! Prosperity is bad for THAT ONE!"

Have you heard that the Ayers/Dohrn daughter is a personal assistant to Hugo Chavez? Methinks she's not getting his dry cleaning, a la Rocky Delgadillo's assistants.

I may have to join in and vote for Obama, because I want to see how this mess turns out.

Noon time "chisme" from the "Pueblo de Los Angeles"

With "Palinmania" sweeping the nation, has our own Mayor Sam gone off to become a "Palin Groupie"??

Regardless of the whereabouts of one "No Ho Valley White Guy", the chisme doesn't stop in regards to the antics on Spring Street.

****Downtown News Reporter Anna Scott has an excellent story on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa stealing Councilman Ed Reyes's vision on Affordable Housing, or was it always Villar's??

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last month quietly released a proposal that would require nearly every new housing project in Los Angeles, including privately financed developments, to contain some affordable units. As the effort progresses, few outside city government are satisfied.

The so-called Mixed-Income Housing Policy is still a work in progress, but has already caused sharp division among the handful of business, development and housing advocates who have seen it. Some say it could further hamper an industry already suffering from the nationwide credit crunch, while others say the affordable housing moves do not go far enough.

****From the Daily News. Which security detail got the better perks?? City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo detail which follow him around Denver at the Democrat National Convention. Or was it Mayor Antonio Villarigosa's detail which venture to Iceland, casting their "flies" with the likes of Keith Brackpool and other "Friends of Villar"??

****From the Downtown Garment and Citizen. Did the Korean community just find out about the 80 False Promises of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa??

KOREANS CALL VILLARAIGOSA ON CONSULATE CAPER: Recent Korean-language media reports had South Korean consul general Jae Soo Kim saying that his government is pulling out of a proposed partnership with the city on the so-called “Super Block” development. The plan called for a number of Korean-related government, business and cultural offices in the area around the Asian nation’s local consulate at Wilshire & New Hampshire. Sources say that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made a big splash about the proposed project at a press conference during his trip to Asia a couple of years back, taking the locals by surprise with grand ideas and assurances of the city’s involvement. Wags in K-Town say that too little has happened to back up the initial talk in the eyes of South Korean government officials, adding that Hizzoner has lost some credibility on the other side of the Pacific Rim…

****From Orlov at the "Moldy Green Sheet", Will Ace allow Parke and Mike to partake in his latest "act of deception" on the behalf of Mayor Villaraigosa??

The mayor and other supporters of Measure R will meet this week to hammer out the plans for the campaign on behalf of the Nov. 4 ballot measure that would increase the sales tax by a half-percent to pay for transit programs.

It is expected to be a multimillion-dollar campaign, but fundraising is hampered by the fact that Villaraigosa and any other member of the MTA board cannot be directly involved in raising money.

Under state law, any contribution of more than $25 prohibits officials from voting on contracts involving donors.

One thing that has been decided is the mayor's political team, which will be headed by Ace Smith

****Look for a story in the next couple of days on a certain "CITY PLANNING OFFICIAL" who "pushed his way" into controversy at the LA 32 Neighborhood Council last week....and to Hugo Garcia and homeless??, Don Jones, is there a Brown Act Violation Complaint in your near future??

****........and in closing, will Bill and Hillary Clinton do for Barack Obama what Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa did for Phil Angelides?? We'll know in 50+ days.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Sunday: Late Edition

Excellent piece by Katharine Russ at RonKayeLA about the corrupting influence of contributions to local pols - including City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo - on the eventual fate of the controversial Home Depot in Sunland-Tujunga.  Russ notes that the inability of City leadership to stand up for the community could lead to an eventual dilemma where the City Attorney will have to simultaneously defend itself against lawsuits by the retail giant as well as the community.

David Markland notes that the total population of Sarah Palin's home state of Alaska is less than LA Council Districts 4, 5 and 13 combined.  That being said, as Markland comments, if population mattered Barack Obama could have nominated Eric Garcetti as his running mate. On the other hand if you drove from Hollywood to San Pedro you would have covered the entire width of Joe Biden's Delaware.  In fact Mike Antonovich's Fifth District has a larger area than Barack Obama's running mate's home state.

Looks like Zuma Dogg won't be endorsing Jerry Brown for Governor anytime soon.  The California Attorney General has ordered a crackdownon medical marijuana clubs in the state.  “The voters wanted medical marijuana dispensaries to be used for seriously ill patients and their caregivers - not as million-dollar businesses,” Brown said.

Despite the fact that the Governors and the Democrats in the State Legislature are working to place a sales tax on the November ballot, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen has instructed county clerks across the state to began to ready their ballots.  Though the Legislature could waive the June 26th deadline to place additional measures on the ballot, Bowen feels to do so now would be inappropriate.

You know you're getting old when the Beverly Hills 90210: The Next Generation hits the airwaves.  Well it's really just called 90210 but it's a sequel to the legendary hit of the 90s.  The show also includes original cast members Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty as adult versions of their original teen characters.

Biden: Obama is the first "clean" African-American?

I predicted here on Mayor Sam that it'd be Obama-Biden five days before it was announced, back on August 17th.

Without mentioning who I think would be the best President, I would like the Obama-mamas to comment on the following.

1. If Obama is about "Change," why did he choose a 65 year old Senator who has been in the Senate since he's 29? He's been in D.C. longer than John McCain! What happened to "Change"?

2. Biden, in 2008, said about Obama's inexperience, that "...the Presidency is no place for on-the-job-training."

3. Biden, an admitted plagiarist, in 2008, referred to Obama as "...the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said.

I still predict that McCain + anyone will defeat Obama, especially with Biden. I am not saying which way I am voting. It's just how I think it'll go. It will be very interesting watching.

But everyone in Los Angeles should be grateful, however, that Obama had the wisdom to give no TV speaking time to Mayor PromoteMe-Raigosa. We hear that Jack Weiss, the mayor's girlfriend, is very upset about it. But Rocky Delga-dodo must be having a great laugh about it!

Late Night Rocky News!

Poor Rocky Delgadillo, if it isn't Laura Chick messing with his rice bowl, it's someone else. This time though, it's the FBI! The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the federal agency has begun an investigation into the former rising political star's use of public resources for private use.

Agents were recently in L.A. conducting interviews for what may develop into a major career ending probe.

Rocky can try to sue Laura Chick for seeking answers, but that tactic is probably not going to fly with the F.B.I.!

LA Weekly: Returning to "Weekly of Record" standards

In the recent past, this blogger has taken the LA Weekly and Editor Jill Stewart to task for losing the likes of investigated reporters Jeffery Anderson and David Zahniser to other mastheads and some would say, less discerning copy editing.

But in the recent weeks, the "Weekly of Record" is striving to live up to the moniker bestowed.

This week Jill Stewart has two posts on the "Rocky vs. The Chick" and "Ace dumping Villar for Brown" that are must reads.

In this week's edition, Max Taves takes a cynic's view to MTA's $40 Billion Dollar Tax Proposal and David Ferrell has the latest on the proposal by the Great-grandson of Col. Griffith to bestow historical status on Griffith Park.

***By Max Taves, "Villaraigosa: Faking an Economic Miracle"***

Double Haiku: Where's Rocky?

Esq. Delgadillo.
Lays low for rest of his term.
Keeps car keys from wife.

Stole from the City.
Lied about his scholarship.
Still better than Weiss.

Open Thread for Wednesday: Chick vs. Degladillo

The latest LA pols to go mano-a-mano are City Attorney Rocky "It was my wife's fault" Delgadillo and City Controller Laura "I'm Moving to Studio City if Wendy Wins" Chick.  Whose your pick?

The Daily News' Rick Orlov writes:

Escalating their fight over executive privilege, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo went to court Monday in an effort to prevent City Controller Laura Chick from auditing the workers' compensation program in his office. Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.


As Chick's auditors arrived Monday morning to interview the city attorney's staff, Delgadillo filed a civil complaint, challenging Chick's opinion that she has the legal right to conduct performance audits on the offices of elected officials.


"We are happy to have these lawyers' work reviewed by an independent reviewer, but not by a politician - and a politician who is gearing up for her next campaign," said Nick Velasquez, spokesman for Delgadillo.

If you're tired of this nonsense, you can join the bandwagon to support Ron Kaye for Controller.

Hump Day Hotsheet

“This is the most important election of our lifetime!”

I know I’ve heard this before—haven’t you? Why, of course! 2004 was the “most important election of our lifetime.” And, come to think of it, so was 2000.

One thing we all know about our absentee mayor: he has nary an altruistic bone in his body. His recent red-eye to Washington was hardly “testament to his newfound loyalty” to Barack Obama, as the Times would have us believe. Truth be told, this is probably the most important election of Antonio’s lifetime, and I wish him all the best; if he scores a new job in D.C., Los Angeles will be better off for it.

Surprise, surprise. According to City Controller Laura Chick, the trash tax increase you were told would be spent hiring new cops isn’t all being spent hiring new cops. Walter Moore and David Zahniser have the shocking details.

Hey, did you know Rocky Delgadillo’s birthday is coming up? Next week, according to Wikipedia, he’ll be 48, but, the official celebration—a small gathering of family and close friends—will be held July 22nd in Larchmont Village. I was honored to receive an invitation to the party (the darnedest things arrive on my fax machine), but regrettably cannot afford the $1,000 admission price. You see, as much as I’d like to support Rocky’s unannounced candidacy for the unknown, times are tough. My trash bill is up, my cell phone bill is up, and Janice Hahn is shaking me down for more gang money.

Just how many cans of Old Style beer did Steve Lopez drink on a recent getaway to Chicago? Enough, apparently to return with the following headline: A role model for L.A.? Chicago.

As a guy who fled the Windy City, I can tell you that visiting and living Chicago are two polar opposites. Let me put it this way: there’s a good reason Mayor Villaraigosa has such admiration for his Midwestern counterpart. How would you like to live in a town without mayoral term limits? Ruled with force; by order and decree? Mayor Richard M. Daley’s name is inscribed on nearly every piece of public property. Oh, and Chicago’s City Council makes ours look sane and sober.

I moved here for a reason. With freedom comes a little chaos. Los Angeles is America’s freest big city—you can love this place despite its leadership.

Lunch Time Missives: Schwarzenegger and Brokaw, a "dialog", "Entrepreneur for Mayor?" and an example of "bloggin myopia"

Oh the Glory!!!.......to Tom Brokaw on yesterday's "Meet the Press".

Nothing these days brings more glee to this blogger than a "verbal take down" of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, aka the "KENNEDY REPUBLICAN".

So far gone are those heady days in 2003 after the Recall of Gov. Gray Davis, when a foreign concept called "fiscal restraint" was reintroduce into the Sacramento Capital vocabulary.

Now in 2008, it has come to this.

Brokaw: "When you ran for governor in 2003, you ran as a fiscal conservative who would change the system, who would bring business-like techniques," Brokaw said. "Now, you are facing a $15-billion deficit here in California. Unemployment is running at about 6.8%; you've got the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression. If you were the CEO of a public company, the board would probably say, 'It is time to go.' "

"Kennedy Republican": joked, "Are you always this positive?"

"Brokaw": "Before you came in, governor, you said the spending was out of control," he said. "Your rate of increase in spending is about the same as your predecessor, Gov. Gray Davis. It has grown at about, what, 34% since you took office."

"Kennedy Republican": "You've been around long enough to know that the numbers are misleading. We have paid off a lot of debt. . . . I am very proud that we paid off a lot of debt and that we got the economy going again."

"Brokaw": "It appears the people have some real questions about your leadership," Brokaw said. "Your approval rating has gone from what, 60% in December down to about 40% recently. It is tough to govern under those circumstances."

"Kennedy Republican": "Not at all. I'm having a great time."

.......and the rest of Californians???

****Profile of a "Politically Astute" Entrepreneur****

Nice profile on a L.A. based businessman in the "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET...for sale" business section.

Much has been made in the past about this person with the nickname of "Magic", but why regurgitate all this now unless you need to raise your profile for a "future foray into politics"?

****"Puff Roderick", what were you reading??****

It must be the rarified air on the heights of Mar Vista Hill that would cause the "WWG" to draw this conclusion from yesterday's Daily News story on Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Rick Orlov interviews the mayor on the start of his fourth year, talks to a few observers, and concludes "for the first two years, he seemed to do no wrong...These days the affair is over, the divorce is quietly moving ahead, and Villaraigosa, after nearly nine months of maintaining a relatively low profile, has steadily begun re-emerging into the public spotlight. And even if he no longer has the same rabid support that he enjoyed in 2005, he is once again energized with the prospect of what lies ahead, as he looks to his own re-election campaign." DN (plus Orlov column on fundraisers)

......and for a good laugh, link to "Orlov column" and regale in the details of City Attorney Rocky "Rocktard" Delgadiilo's thoughts about his "political future" (insert your favorite laugh track)

Friday Morning Missives

Good Friday morning to all, especially to our dueling elected Department Heads on Spring Street.

A long simmering feud between City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo and City Controller Laura Chick boiled over into a departmental "slap fight" with the City Controller subpoenaing the City Attorney for record pertaining to its oversight of the office's Workers Compensation Program.

The City Attorney’s decision to withhold this important information from public scrutiny is a slap in the face to the people he serves. In an effort to provide the public with the accountability they deserve, I am exercising my subpoena powers for documents and records in the City Attorney’s Office pertaining to the Workers’ Compensation Program.

Since becoming Controller seven years ago and conducting 154 audits, this is only the second time that I have been forced to utilize my subpoena powers, and I don’t do so lightly. Unfortunately, due to the City Attorney’s actions, I am left with no other choice.

Memo to Ms. Chick, that 154 number you cite in your press release should be 155. There is a department in the Garland Building that has the initials of C-D-D? They use to oversee a program called L-A- B-R-I-D-G-E-S? That program gave regular city pay checks with your "John Hancock" on it to someone associated with the M-E-X-I-C-A-N M-A-F-I-A?

So Ms. Chick, stop with the theatrics on how you are going to huff and puff and blow down "Rocktard's Door" and do what many of the community wanted done long ago, AUDIT L.A. BRIDGES!!

****Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn faces four criminal charges stemming from a city program that provided low interest home loans to city officials. Dorn a ordained minister was a former sheriff deputy, asst. city attorney and Juvenile Court Judge, was a regular on the "Talk Back Radio Show" with George Putnam in the 80's and 90's discussing his thoughts on the Juvenile Justice System.

****We forgot to mention that former councilman "M.L.K." has resurface, that being "Martin Ludlow King". The convicted former councilman is passing the time working with the football players at Dorsey High School. New LA Times Sports Columnist Kurt Streeter does the "hosanas in print" in expousing Ludlow taking accountibility...and falling on the sword for others, in the SEIU 99 Courruption Trial. Then there is something about a late public figure and a lack of autopsy.

****The Daily News is a "fishwrap" in need of leadership. After being "used" by DWP General Manager H(osed) David Nahai, then trying to save face with its "confessional retort", the "MOLDY GREEN SHEET calls upon LAPD to revise it immigration policy known to all as Special Order 40.

****The "OLD GREY HAG ON SPRING STREET....for sale" is a "Johnny come lately" to that dysfunctional group known as the "Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood Council" led by former late Assemblyman Marcos Firebaugh aide and currently employed by Councilman Richard "Zorro Marxist" Alarcon, Jose Sigala. BTW, Sigala is also related to LHNC's David Galaviz.

.........later today, more on the "TROLL FOR DOUGH A-THON" Day Five.

Mayor Sam's Hotsheet for Thursday

Joe B. broke the story here first but yes Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes has pulled his shady Assembly Bill 212 that would have allowed the developers of a controversial housing development in Tujunga to move forward without city oversight. Pressure from the blog and other quarters no doubt forced Fuentes to pull the bill. The bigger question is why didn't Councilwoman Wendy Greuel - who represents the area in the City Council - know about it sooner? I was speaking Wednesday evening with a longtime local who remarked to me that it's a prevailing view that Greuel's staff is often not on top of things leading their boss to be embarrassed many times. Well, it it is hard to hire good help these days.

James Carville says that Barack Obama should pick Al Gore as his running mate. Okay. C'mon. Stop laughing kids!

The march towards Soviet style socialism continues in Los Angeles as school board member Tamar Galatzan and District Attorney Rocky Delgadillo are behind a movement to require all LAUSD students to wear uniforms. Many schools have voluntarily implemented uniforms and those who support them say it helps improve student performance. As one who grew up and attended LAUSD schools from the 60s through the 80s I can tell that's BS. Its about holding kids accountable to do their homework and that the parents are involved. Lets just wipe out any individualism kids have. Yes, it is time to break up LAUSD if this is the nonsense they're involved in.

Who knew? Valley Doll previously covered the roller skating Derby Dolls; now City Council President Eric Garcetti shows up at a recent Dolls match to sing the National Anthem.

When The Circus Comes To Town

This coming Saturday, April 26th, the Delgadillo Traveling Circus of Backroom Deals will descend upon the community of Sunland-Tujunga in a display of stunning manipulation not seen in these parts since P.T. Barnum exclaimed " A Sucker Is Born Every Minute!"

Witness almost 100 mediators under the artistic direction of Avis Ridley-Thomas attempt the impossible. These highly trained professionals will try to mass hypnotize the 1000 participants and work to convince them to let down their guard against the evil desires of Agent Orange (aka Home Depot). It's hard to let your guard down after Home Depot has spent the last 3 years labeling opponents of their store as racists, spending $600,000 lobbying the City, and bussing in paid supporters. The mediators, who may not even realize the part they are really playing in this unprecedented extravaganza, will likely stick to the script and take their roles very seriously.

The room may be padded with outsiders, possibly hundreds, brought in by Home Depot (aka Agent Orange) in order to force the community to go along with their plans to convert a former K-Mart into the industrial warehouse store that they dream of. Home Depot owns numerous other former K-Mart sites in L.A., that they also want to transform. Could this be the test case and the precedent setter?

Mr. City Attorney, in his infinite wisdom, decided to allow anyone in the entire world to attend this show of shows, instead of keeping the matter between the local residents, who will be most affected, and the corporation wishing to infect.

If the mediators can come back to the City Attorney and say that no clear consensus emerged from the community (the community now being redefined as whoever shows up at the event), will this be the excuse a Judge or City Official needs to allow the Project to proceed?
Even though this is not a popularity contest (Home Depot still needs to go through a full E.I.R. whether they want to or not), "community" support can play a big factor in the process.


Will this be Manipulation's finest hour?
Come see for yourself. We can only hope
that our suspicions are wrong.

And to prepare you for this heart stopping event:

Read the list of questions that will be posed to the participants (written by the RAND Corporation, no less) follow this link:
http://www.no2homedepot.com/files/
Sunland-Tujunga_Discussion_Guide.doc

To see some disturbing photos of what Home Depot wants to do to Sunland-Tujunga,
visit this :
http://www.no2homedepot.com/HDSF.html

To just witness this marvel of manipulation is worth the price of admission alone! And just for you, the admission is free. The entire world is invited!

As an extra added attraction, a virtual perfect storm of L.A. Bloggers will be on hand to cover
the proceedings. The mighty Mayor Sam, Zuma Dogg, and Joseph Mailander will be there, live and in person, to report back to their respective readers. KNBC and several other media outlets will also be on hand to cover this mind boggling event.

Step right up, this is one feat of daring not to be missed.

The Sunland-Tujunga Dialogue
Saturday, April 26th,
1pm to 4 pm
Mount Gleason School
10965 Mt. Gleason Ave.
Sunland, CA 91040

Let The Games Begin!

The City Attorney's Office announced on Monday that the initial "dialogue" between Sunland-Tujunga and Home Depot will take place on April 26th in a 6 hour long marathon of mediation madness.

If you recall, Home Depot has suspended their $10,000,000.00 lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles and have agreed to undergo Project Permit Compliance Review. If the City does not grant Home Depot their permits to complete their store and open, they will reinstate the lawsuit. The City Attorney has also agreed to complete the process in no more than 5 months unless both parties agree to an extension.

This agreement was made without anyone seeing what Home Depot's application entails, nor was anyone in Sunland-Tujunga notified that this deal was in the works until after the ink had dried.
In some parts of the world, they refer to this as a "backroom deal". Here in Los Angeles, the City Attorney refers to Sunland-Tujunga as a "Special Interest Group" and considers the Community's input "irrelevant to the case".

Evidently not irrelevant enough to prevent the City Attorney from ordering mediation between Home Depot and the Community.

The Dispute Resolution Team of the City Attorney's office will have 100 facilitators on hand to meet with what they expect to be 1000+ residents at the April 26th meeting.

The Community is going into these mediations virtually blind.

All inquires to Avis Ridley-Thomas, the woman in charge of this dialogue (yes, it's Mark's wife) have been stonewalled, or have been form letter type responses. No one knows who is allowed to participate (please no bussed in supporters this time, Home Depot), what the format of the meetings are, and even more disturbing, why Home Depot is allowed to back out at any time if they don't like the way things are going and Sunland-Tujunga is not.
Either we show up and participate or Home Depot will work out something with who ever does show up (paid or not, resident or not).

Fair? Of course not. Dog and Pony show? Absolutely.
Confused? You are not alone.

Let the games begin.